Loose-leaf binder



Oct. 26 1926.

F. H. cRUMP Loos LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 26, 192e V2 Sheefs-Sheet 1:J1/Wenko?, FRANK H. Cea/Mp fluozmq Oct. 26 1926. f 1,604,262

F. H. cRuMP LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Jan. 26. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .5.Fa 26 wuv/ntoz d g l I A 25 Y FRANK /.CeL/MP Patented Oct. 26, 1926.

FRANK I-I. CRUMP, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFQRNIA.

LOOSE-LEAF BNDER.

Application filed January 2G, 1926. Serial No. 83,879.

My invention relates to loose leaf binders bf the type embodied in myPat-ent No. 1,093,835, issued April 24e, 1914, wherein top and bottomcovers are provided with bind- 5 ing posts permanently associated withthe bottom cover and providing a mounting ior the leaves and the topcover to permit the ready application and removal of the leaves and topcover to or from the posts, the posts being subsequently severed andheaded to form a permanent means for retaining the leaves and top coveragainst displacement from the posts, thus providing a permanent binder.

It is a purpose of my present invention to provide a loose leaf binderof the above described character which can be used as a current binderand subsequently as a permanent binder, my invention being simple andinexpensive means for detachably and securely locking the top coveragainst accidental displacement 'from the binding posts and in clampingrelation to the bottom cover in such manner that the top cover can bereadily removed to permit the adding oi lil new leaves as is necessaryin the current use` of the binder, and the retention ot the lockingmeans between the covers when the posts are finally severed and heade-dtor permanent binding.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide a loose leaf binderhaving` a leafv and cover locking means and a post attaching meansapplicable, respectively, to the` top and bottom covers after the latterhave been made, thereby greatly facilitating theI manufacture andassembly of the binder.A

A Jfurther purpose of my invention is the provision of a leaf lockingmeans and a binder post capable of use for filing and bindingindependently of covers.

I will describe only two forms of looseleaf binders embodying myinvention, and will in claims.

In the drawings* Figure 1 is a view showing in perspective.

then point out the novel features thereof` on the line 4 4 of Figure 3,but with the posts severed and headed for permanent -showing one of thelocking washers embodied in the binder;

Figure 7 is a view showing in vertical section a second form of binderembodying my invention;

F igurc 8 is a sectional perspective view showing a modiiied form oflocking washer embodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts'in each of theseveral views.

Referring speciiically to the drawings, my invention in its iirstembodiment comprises a bottom cover 15, a top cover 16, with leaves 17between the two, and the covers formed with binding strips 18 and 19,respectively, secured to the covers by the binding material in the usualmanner.

As clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4, a pair of binding` posts 20 areprovided, preterably formed ot tubular brass, and with their lower endsprovided with steel washers 21 and swaged ends 22 to provide annularlips, and between the lips and the washers are buffer rings 28 formed ofbrass. These elements contribute to form heads tor permanently securingthe binding posts within sockets E24 of plates 25, the latter beingsecured to the binding strip 18 of the bottom cover 15 by rivets 26. Itwill be understood that the socket portions 24 of the plates 25co-operate with the binding strip 18 to form pockets in which the postheads are permanently retained to thereby supportthe posts in uprightposition upon the inner side of the binding strip.

The binding` strip 19 o'f the -top cover 16 is formed with a pair ofapertures 27 of a diameter to slidably receive the binding post 2O andto thereby allow vertical movement of the top cover on the post-s foradjustment and removal in the application or removal of leaves to orfrom the binding posts.

1n the current use of the binder it is necessary that the top cover 16be removed from the binding` posts at frequent intervals in order toallow the application of new leaves between the covers of the binder,and it` is therefore desirable that the top cover be readily removed,adjustable vertically on the posts to accommodate the new leaves, andcapable of being releasably locked in any adjusted position so as toproperly co-operate with the bottom cover in compactly holding theleaves in book form and to prevent accidental displacement of the topcover from the posts. l attain these functions by the provision of asimple locking` means carried by the top cover and engaging the bindingposts, and in such manner as to permit ythe ready removal of the topcover from the posts or vertical adjustment thereof when necessary. Thislocking means in Athe present instance comprises a pair of what may betermed washers 28, one for each of the posts, with each washer formeelof rubber or other suitable elastic or resilient material and having anopening` Q8 which, as shown in Figure 6, is 'of uniform diameter butslightly smaller than the diameter of the post for a purpose which willbe hereinafter described. This washer 28 is carried `by the inner sideof the top binder strip 19 by means of a socket plate Q9 identical inconstruction to the plate 25, with the socket thereof receiving thewasher so that when the plate is vsecured to the binder strip by' therivets 2G he washer will be housed between the socket portion and thebinder strip and in surrounding relation to the corresponding opening27. The opening 28 of the washer is thus in registration with theopening 27 of the binder strip so that the binding post can be extendedthrough the washer. The mounting of the washer is such that it isslightly compressed, the washer being thicker than the socket in whichit is housed, so as to compress the washer in applying the socket plateto the binding strip. ln this manner, the washer is held against undueflexing when moving' the binder strip 19 vertically on the post so thatthe washer will operate to effectively grip the post in locking thebinder strip against movement thereon.

As previously described, the diameter of the washer opening 28 isslightly smaller than the external diameter of the post 2O so that whenthe post is extended through the opening a slight horizontal compressionof the washer is effected, which reacts to increase the gripping actionof the washer and consequently its locking function. It is to be notedthat the socket mounting for the washer is such as to allow a limitedlateral flexing thereof at the opening 28 in order that the washer willnot unduly yield to any tendency of the binding strip to move verticallyon the post.

In practice, the two washers 28 normally lock the top binding strip 19in clamping relation to the leaves 17 of the lower binding `strip 18,but when it is desired to remove the top cover 16 a tter the application.of new leaves to the bin-der, the binder strip 19 can be movedvertically by exerting suicient upward pull to overcome lthe frictionalgripping of the Washers 28. ln reapplying the top cover the upper endsof the binding posts are extended through the warhers and openings ofthe top binder strip, su'llicient downward force being` exerted toovercome the gripping action of the Washers until the top binding stripis in embracing` relation to the leaves. lt will thus be seen thatr Ihave provided a current binder which allows the ready application ofadditional leaves as desired, but when the binder has received its limitof leaves, and it is desired to form a permanent binder, vthe posts are'severed and headed to permanently lock the top binder strip 19 againstremoval from lthe posts, as clearly illustrated herein and described 'inmy vpatent hereinbefore referred to.

Referring now to Figure 8, l have here shown a modified form of lockingwasher, designated at 31, which is likewise formed of rubber or othersuitable material. However, the opening 51EL of the washer, instead lofheilig of uniform diameter, is of frustoconical form, or tapered, 4insuch direction that when substituted for the washer QS the binding strip19 can freely move downwardly on the posts, but is lfrietionally lockedagainst upward movement thereon. lt will be understood that due to thetapered .form of the washer opening the washer will not effectively gripthe post, yas the post moves through and toward the smaller end oftheopening, .but when the post moves in the opposite direction thewasher/will be flexed to effectively `grip the post.

Referring now to Figure 7, I have here shown another form ofbinder,embodying my invention, which is more in the form of a file thana binder, in that no covers are used and one or a plurality of bindingposts can be employed. In the present instance I have shown a singlebinding post 2O with a head at its lower end constructed in the samemanner as the head of the other binding .posts in the iirst form of myinvention. Mounted on the post 20 is a locking` member for coniining theleaves 17 against removal from the post and co-operating with the headedend of the post to securely clamp the leaves in stacked formationthereon. This locking member is identical to the member 28 and hence isindicated at Q8, and in the present instance this member is housed inand slightly compressed by a two-part metallic casing 32. The parts ofthe casing 32 are of disk form, with central openings 82a of greaterdiameter than the opening 2S of the member 28 so as to allow the limitedliexing of the member as it is moved longitudinally on the post wherebyit is frictionally locked against movement.

In, this form of my invention the post 20 being of tubular form maylikewise be compressed transversely and thereby expanded llO to form ahead to permanently secure the member 28 against removal from the post,the upper binding strip being recessed to accommodate the post head andthus allovv the latter to occupy a countersunk position in which it isflush With the top side of the binding strip.

Although I have herein shown and described only two forms ot loose leafbinder embodying my invention, it is to be understood that variouschanges and variations may be made therein Without departing from thespirit o'lE the invention, and Within the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

l. A loose leaf binder comprising a top cover and a bottom cover, postsfixed to the bottom cover at one ot' their ends, and eX- tending throughthe top` cover, and means carried by the top cover constantly oper`ating to frictionally retain the cover against movement longitudinallyon the posts but yieldable upon application of sui'licient force topermit adjustment and removal of the top cover.

2. A loose leaf binder comprising a top cove-r and a bott-om cover,posts fixed to the bottom cover at one of their ends, and eX- tendingthrough the top cover, and an elastic member carried by the top coverconstantly operating to 'frictionally retain the cover against movementlongitudinally on the posts but yieldable upon application of snilicientforce to permit adjustment and removal of the top cover.

3. A loose leaf binder comprising bottom and top covers having bindingstrips hingedly connected thereto, socket members on the inner side orthe binding strip for the bottom cover, posts, heads on the postsselcured in the socket members to sustain the posts in perpendicularposition on the bind- 4. A loose leaf binder as embodied in claim 3,wherein the posts are tubul-ar in cross section and are adapted to becompressed transversely and thereby expanded to form transverse headsfor permanently coniining the top binding strip against removal from theposts.

5. A looose leaf binder comprising bottom and top covers having bindingstrips hingedly connected thereto, a pair of binding plates secured tospaced points on the inner side of the lower binding strip and havingsocket portions coacting with the strip to iorm sockets, a pair of postshaving heads on their lower ends secured in said sockets to sustain theposts in upright position on the lower binding strip, the upper bindingstrip having spaced openings for slidably receiving they posts, platessecured to the top binding strip and having socket portions coastingWith the strip to form r sockets, and post engaging members in the lastsockets ior frictionally retaining the top binding strip againstmovement longitudinally on the posts.

6. A binder as embodied in claim 5, Wherein the posts are formed oftubular metal and adapted to be compressed transversely and therebyexpanded to form heads beyond the top binding strip to permanently lockthe latter against removal from the posts, the upper binding strip beingrecessed to accommodate the post heads.

FRANK H. CRUMP.

